Method of preparing a polyphase system

ABSTRACT

Liquids which form a poly-phase system when mixed are mixed together by the steps of continuously introducing the liquids at a substantially controlled rate into one end of a passageway defined by generally closely spaced surfaces of revolution, continuously removing the resultant admixture of liquids from the other end of said passageway at a rate to produce a continuous flow of the admixture through the passageway from the one end to the other end while maintaining the passageway filled with the admixture, and producing relative rotational movement between such surfaces whereby at least one of the surfaces moves substantially obliquely to the general direction of flow through the passageway, the velocity of such rotational movement being sufficient to induce a turbulent flow condition in substantially the entirety of the admixture within the passageway.

i United States Patent 11 1 Claes 14 1 Dec. 16,1975

[ METHOD OF PREPARING A POLYPHASE SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Frans Henri Claes, Edegem,

[21] Appl. No.: 413,458

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 129,664, March 31, 1971, Pat.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [58] Field of Search..... 106/137, 198; 260/296 PM, 260/342, 13, 8; 252/314 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,980,589 l H1934 Acree 260/296 PM Johnston 260/296 R Smith et al 260/291) PM Primary ExaminerTheodore Morris Attorney, Agent, or FirmWillliam J. Daniel [57] ABSTRACT Liquids which form a poly-phase system when mixed are mixed together by the steps of continuously introducing the liquids at a substantially controlled rate into one end of a passageway defined by generally closely spaced surfaces of revolution, continuously removing the resultant admixture of liquids from the other end of said passageway at a rate to produce a continuous flow of the admixture through the passage way from the one end to the other end while maintaining the passageway filled with the admixture, and producing relative rotational movement between such surfaces whereby at least one of the surfaces moves substantially obliquely to the general direction of flow through the passageway, the velocity of such rotational movement being sufficient to induce a turbulent flow condition in substantially the entirety of the admixture within the passageway.

8 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures Patent Dec.16,1975 Sheet1of26 3,926,654

FIG 'I FIG 4 U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f 26 3,926,654

FIG 5 US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 3 of 26 3,926,654

FIG 6 US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet4 of 26 3,926,654

l l W///////////////////////////////////////,7////////////////////f FIG 7 U.S. Patant Dec. 16,1975 SheetS of 26 3,926,654

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 6 0f 26 3,926,654

Fig.9

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet7of 26 3,926,654

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 8 0f 26 3,926,654

I I m US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet9of 26 3,926,654

FIG. 72

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 10 of26 3,926,654

Fig. 73

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 11 of 26 3,926,654

Fig. 74

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1a 19 is H 16 US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 13 of 26 3,926,654

Fig. 76

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 14 of 26 3,926,654

US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet 15 of 26 3,926,654

in -m o In mm am FIG 21 US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet 19 of 26 3,926,654 

1. A METHOD OF PREPARING AN AQUEOUS DISPERSION OF A WATERIMMISCIBLE SOLVENT-SOLUBLE ORGANIC POLYMER BY MIXING TOGETHEER (A) A SOLUTION OF SAID POLYMER IN A WATER-IMMISICIBLE ORGANIC SOLVENT AND (B) AN AQUEOUS LIQUID, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SIMULTANEOUSLY AND CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING SAID SOLUTION AND SAID LIQUID AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTROLLED RATE INTO ONE END OF AN ANNULAR PASSAGEWAY DEFINED BY GENERALLY CLOSELY SPACED SURFACES OF REVOLUTION, CONTINUOUSLY REMOVING THE RESULTANT ADMIXTURE OF LIQUIDS FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID PASSAGEWAY AT A RATE TO PRODUCE A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF SAID ADMIXTURE THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY FROM SAID ONE END TO SAID OTHER END WHILE MAINTAINING THE PASSAGEWAY FILLED WITH SAID ADMIXTURE, SAID PASSAGEWAY BEING ELONGATED IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF SAID FLOW THERETHROUGH AND GRADYALLY TAPERING FROM SAID ONE END TO THE OTHER, AND PRODUCING RELATIVE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID SURFACES PRODUCING RELATIVE ROTADIRECTION OF FLOW THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY, THE VELOCITY OF SUCH DIRECTION OF FLOW THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY, THE VELOCITY OF SUCH ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT BEING SUFFICIENT TO INDUCE A TURBULENT FLOW CONDITIONS IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRETLY OF SAID ADMIXTURE WITHIN THE PASSAGEWAY.
 2. A method of mixing according to claim 1 wherein the passageway has a transverse cross-sectional dimension of less than 5 mm.
 3. A method of mixing according to claim 1 wherein the passageway is a annular layer space defined by the surfaces, which are continuously relatively rotated about an axis for generating such turbulent flow.
 4. A method of mixing according to claim 1 wherein said passageway is in the form of an annular layer space defined by mutually facing coaxial surfaces of revolution extending at an angle other than perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous liquid contains gelatin.
 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the organic polymer is polymethylmethacrylate.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the polymethylmethacrylate is dissolved in ethyl acetate.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said surfaces of revolution have mutually corresponding axial regions which are generally peripherally smooth. 